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Summer's Here, Sports Fans. Get Your Gun and Head to the Range





NEWTOWN, Conn. -- America's favorite summertime sports have long been played on trails, waters, fields, courses and courts.

And, now we know, they're played on shooting ranges, too.

Statistics gathered over the past three years show that target shooting -- with rifle, handgun and shotgun -- is actually more popular than many pastimes historically considered mainstays of warm-season recreation.

State-by-State Statistics

In fact, participation in shooting sports tops tennis, softball, jet skiing, water skiing, mountain biking, most team sports and virtually all of the seasonal technical sports like rock climbing and kayaking, according to the most recent numbers from American Sports Data (ASD), a consumer research firm for the sporting goods, fitness and health club industries.

ASD monitors participation in all shooting sports. It has tracked rifle and shotgun shooting participation for many years, and began tracking handgun target shooting in 2003.

"With three years' worth of data, we now have a more complete and clear picture of the comparative popularity of all shooting sports," said Doug Painter, president of the nonprofit trade group National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

Along with comparisons, the sheer numbers in shooting are also impressive.

Research from ASD shows more than 18 million Americans enjoy the shooting sports. Actual numbers may be even higher. In a 2006 survey commissioned by NSSF, 17 percent of Americans, or about 50 million people, said they had been shooting with a rifle in the past two years. Fifteen percent went target shooting with a handgun and eight percent with a shotgun.

Per capita, ASD shows Idaho as the most avid shooting state (18 of every 100 people participate), followed by Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Arkansas.

In overall numbers, California is No. 1 with over 2.1 million shooters, including the most rifle, handgun and shotgun shooters of any state. Texas, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio follow, according to ASD.

"Target shooters say their sport is challenging, a great activity to share with family and friends, and just plain fun. Plus, there's an added benefit -- shooting hones self- and home-defense skills that give citizens confidence and peace of mind," said Painter.

NSSF operates a Web site, huntandshoot.org, offering where-to and how-to information.

Shooting sports vary widely. Shotgun games include fast-action trap, skeet and sporting clays. Rifle shooters can choose from infinite forms of target sports, from composed precision to boisterous cowboy shooting. Handgun options range from simple practice on paper silhouette targets to elaborate, reactive obstacle courses that test competitors' athleticism, speed and accuracy.

Venues can be as humble as a local gun club to the world stage of the Olympic games.

Painter said new shooting leagues are popping up at ranges around the country with handgun sports emerging as a growing attraction, especially for women. NSSF is partnering with ranges nationwide to offer "First Shots" clinics for newcomers. Those who have attended the clinics have enjoyed their first experiences. In fact, surveys show 92 percent of First Shots attendees say they will likely continue participating in shooting.

Shooting is among the safest sports. Accidents and injuries are exceedingly rare, especially when compared statistically with other forms of outdoor recreation.

Wildlife conservation funding in America is generally attributed to hunters, but shooters also are vital contributors. An excise tax on all firearms and ammunition is earmarked for wildlife restoration, management and habitat programs.

To learn more and find a shooting range near you, visit www.huntandshoot.org, NSSF's free, one-stop clearinghouse of information for firearm-based recreation.

NSSF Bullet Points

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